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Manhattan Buses Will Soon Be Able To Text You Their Location

Soon you’ll be able to go from waiting for your bus to arrive to waiting for your bus to text you back.

According to a WNYC Radio report, the MTA is upgrading its Manhattan fleet of buses with ‘Bus Time,’ a text-based service that lets you track your bus’ whereabouts. Riders can text 511123 to find out how many miles or stops away their bus is, though it’s up to them to figure out how much time it’ll take to reach them. Bus Time uses a wireless GPS system that transmits data about buses’ locations every 30 seconds over cellular connections.

The service, which is already operating in the Bronx and Staten Island, will begin rolling out to Manhattan buses by the end of October. The MTA says 6,000 buses on 250 routes at 12,000 stops in all five boroughs will get Bus Time by next spring. Visit the MTA’s website for more details about the service.